A typical autumn morning with the ground wet from the overnight rain and gentle sunshine to greet the early walkers, while the sound of small birds came from the bushes and from overhead.
The deep croak of a Raven as it glided along above the clifftop was in contrast to the cackling Jackdaws which were keeping pace with it, looking dwarfed by their huge Corvid relative. The Raven eventually dislodging other Jackdaws perched on the top of the mile markers.
The area of Gorse and Blackthorn along the diagonal path was alive with Chiffchaffs, 15 counted as these small warblers hopped from branch to looking for some breakfast insects, while the call of a Robin radiated out across the plot and a Wren sung loudly.
From the gully came the call of a Green Woodpecker, which then took off flying in its characteristic up and down flight until landing on the top branch of one of the Wild Apple trees.
As it landed it brought to my attention a Redwing, whose patch of red feathers flashed as it moved to the next bush. Song Thrush, Blackbird and Ring Ouzel were also seen to give a 4 species thrush morning.
Walking along the downland the constant calling of Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins came from above as they flocks gather. These and the Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Goldfinches made for constant action in the skies above Durlston.
As I turned and admired the view, a slight movement drew my attention to a Roe Deer (male) watching me, his head and neck visible while the rest of his body was somewhere in the middle of a mass of tumbling Old Man’s Beard. Down in the gully a doe was also browsing.
On the ground a superb large blue-black Dung Beetle, and much smaller and a shinier Banksii.
No sign so far of yesterday’s Yellow-browed Warbler.